3D Models

[Garyhlucas]

So I have a complaint here that has been a problem for at least 20 years.  I bring it up here because unlike many other companies you guys actually listen and get it.

I just opened a step file of the BX-DM1E-36ED13-D.  On my brand new slow poke computer this took several minutes because the model is detailed all the way down to a level your competitors could copy your product physically so well that you'd have a hard time knowing it wasn't yours!  Do you think we your customer need that level of detail?  Now I get it, supplying defeatured models than the ones you actually use to make your product is an added step that require manpower and cost. However look at from the customers perspective and the total cost this incurs.

At my last job we downloaded every AD product we used and defeatured them so we could build the large control panel assemblies in a reasonable amount of time. At my job previous to that one I had to do the same thing in a different software.  At the job I have now I am again faced with defeaturing all the same models of YOUR product so I can use it in my plant!  These hours lost are for just one person for one product line.  Imagine the lost hours across all of your customers.

It gets worse too.  Going back 2 jobs and at my current job we are discouraged from using 3D modeling modeling because it isn't seen as cost effective when the 2D guy represent the PLC as a rectangle.  Yet what I get from the 3D model is a complete BOM exported to an MRP program that generates all the POs, Work Orders and material recievers that allow us to build a complex product touching every part just twice!  However the first step is ALWAYS creating a library and defeaturing everything from tiny bolts with threads to PLCs with every single component inside.

Free software is the handle that sells the razor blade.  Defeatured parts is what removes a huge obstacle to selling more blades.  If I am using AB, already defeatured all their parts in our library do you really think my boss will be encouraging me to spend the time to do yours as well?

I'll kick the soapbox out of the way and get back to work.

Thanks,

[BobO]

Pretend I don't know what you are talking about...step files?

[Garyhlucas]

Step files actually .stp are a type of universal 3d geometry files used to transfer models from different programs in the same way .dxf files are used in the 2D world by programs like AutoCad.  We get these files from AD but they must originate from Host because they are the files used to create molds for all the plastic parts in the PLC.

What drives us 3D guys crazy are things like the ventilation slots in the BRX which are also nicely filleted. These takes tons of memory and huge horsepower to render the display and is completely unneccesary to your customers. All we need is what I call a ?shrink wrapped? model of the exterior surfaces and no fine details. When those vent slots get modeled in a program like SolidWorks they are ussually done as a feature that you can simply suppress before saving the model as a .stp file. The internal circuit boards, battery,  connectors, screws and such also should be suppressed.

We can?t suppress features in an .stp file because they don?t exist as features there. They have been converted to surfaces. So the only way to simplify them is by using a surface modeler and now we may be talking hours of work.

[BobO]

We didn't design the BRX plastic, FACTS did. I was unaware that the full detail models were published. That would not have been my preference.

Host is developing some new plastic for future BRX products. I will make sure that simple monolithic 3D files are published when the time comes.

[Garyhlucas]

 Bob,
I?ve been fighting this issue for years. It has become a real thorn in my side at my new job because we have only one 2014 seat of SolidWorks and the other engineer here says we don?t need 3d, 2d is just fine. My jobs have always been doing cutting edge stuff and staying 100% current is how I am still able to find a job at 67.  Go back 20 years to doing mechanical design in 2d?  I don?t freaking think so!

I just got the high school FIRST robotics kids using SW too. Makes me angry when I hear older guys lamenting they can?t find a job. You let yourself become obsolete and that?s what happens in any field.

[ADC Product Engineer]

I won't bore you with all of the details, but there was an issue that prevented us from going to simplified files without doing a complete rework of all of them which was out of the question at the time.   If we could have made them simple we would have.  We wanted to, it just wasn't possible.  We will strive to do better in the future.

[Garyhlucas]

I understand how much work it is because I do it all the time.  I use SolidWorks but I have found that often I can do a better job and faster in Rhino3D because it is a surface modeler.  I click on the visible outside parts invert the selection and press delete and all that inside stuff is gone.  I often also remove all the inside surfaces of the shell when I can because you can never see them anyway.

However the real issue here is that it would be WAY less cost if your 3D modelers with access to the original parametric models did this work, rather than having virtually every customer that wants to use your 3D models do it.  Take the BRX for example.  I expect this task could be accomplished for the whole line in a couple of days effort.  On our end it has taken at least that much time just for the parts we use, and no other company gets the benefit from that.

You guys lead big time in product, software, shipping, delivery, pricing, customer support, and its a 3D world.  You should lead there too!

[ADC Product Engineer]

That is the issue.  The original models can't be transformed.  We tried.  Every model would have to be redrawn from scratch.  I have a single CAD guy assigned to me that I share with about 6 other product groups.  He could do it, but it would take him three years to get it plowed through along with his other work.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I believe in handing out the truth as best I can.  Just like everyone else out there we have our constraints too.

[Garyhlucas]

I will admit that the first software company to create a shrinkwrap function will be killing it. However when you save the assembly model as .stp it really is no big deal to suppress at the very least all the internal parts that are currently in the model. That would reduce model size by a lot for very little effort. If you save that version as an export configuration it will even keep track of changes in the original model.

[ADC Product Engineer]

Sigh... You asked for it.

That is part of the issue.  It isn't all Solidworks.  If it were, it would be no big deal.  At some point someone (no idea who, there were about five or six folks working on it at the time) changed one or more parts to a mesh.  It can't be fixed, if it could be we would have already done it.

[Garyhlucas]

Mesh huh?  Well yes then you (we) are screwed.  It's like having a picture of your girlfriend and not actually a girlfriend.